Holster



B. ENGLE Nov. 5, 194e.

HOLSTER Filled March 29, 1945 Patented Nov. 5, 1946 tJNl'lED? STATESPTENT FFICE HOLSTER Byron Engle, Kansas City, Mo. application Maren 29,1945, serial No. 585,423

This invention relates to holsters and particularly. articles ofmanufacture having the ability to support small arms in the nature ofpistols.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a holster for pistolsor the like, that isv capable of swinging from one position to anotheras it is being worn-all to the end that the wearer may experiencegreater comfort, greater accessibility to the weapon, and thepossibility of releasably maintaining that portion of the holsteragainst swinging movement when such condition is desired.

Other objects of the invention include the pro- Vision of a holster forpistols or the like, which is comprised of two primary sections, one ofthe same being a belt-engaging support anda hollow body having parts forreleasably latching the same together, and means for pivotally mountingthe hollow body upon the aforesaid support.

Other aims of the invention include a large number of specific detailsof construction, all of which contribute to the beneficial resultsarising from the employment of pistol holsters made as illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a holster made to embodythe presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is another perspective View of the holster illustrating theswingable body thereof in a position dinerent from that illustratedy inFig. 1. 3

Fig. 3 is a back elevational View of the holster.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view taken on lineIV-IV of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view taken'on line V-V of Fig. 3 andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

Holsters of the character chosen to illustrate the invention, arecustomarily used by ofcers of the law, members of the armed forces, andthose habitually carrying side arms as required in their line of duty.

4 Claims. (c1. 224-3) The use of such side arms, and therefore in iholsters to support the same, has accompanying inconveniences because ofthe rigid type of holsters heretofore employed. For example, whenpatrolmen ride scout cars or spend the major portion of their time in anautomobile, a rigid holster will force the supporting belt upwardly andout of adjustment to a point where the pistol carried by the holsterwill not be readily available upon leaving the motor car.

The problem just set forth is but one example of the reason why the bodyportion of the holster, about to be described, must be swingably securedto a support.

In the. drawing, the numeral I9 designatesa hollow body having an opentop and comprised of an outer wall I2, an innerwall I4, and a retainingstrap IIE. As clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, innerwall I4 is cutto present an extended portion IB .whereon is supported one section ofthe parts for releasably holding body I0 in a set position with respectto belt-engaging support 26.

Support 24 is a looped member, preferably formed of leather, to presentthe tubular portion 22 through which passes the belt of the wearer.Glove fasteners of conventional type and designated bythe numeral 24,secure together the overlapped marginal vedges Yof the material fromwhich tubular portion 22 is formed. i

In constructing the support 2B, three distinct pieces of leather areused. The strip 26. is relatively short; strip 22B-"is long enough to berebent to overlie the upper marginal edge of strip 26;

yand the ller member 30 li'es between the lowermost portions of strips26' and 28; Suitable stitching 32 is employed to produce a unitarymember of support 2B.

When fasteners 24 are in the operative position, the belt may be slidthrough loop 22 or said loop may be opened and the belt sippedthereintov by moving the thus freed ends of strips 26 and 28 around thebelt before snaps 24 are again brought into securement.

Hollow body Ill is formed: of leather andv stitched to insure rigidityas shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. rIhe extended portion I3 of body I0 shouldbe provided with a curved upper edge 34 to avoid corners or otherelements that may hinder manipulation.

Body I0 and support 20 are pivotally interconnected, as clearlyillustrated by Fig. 4. Rivet 36 having head 38 is embedded between strip28 and ller 30. The shank of rivet extends through one layer of body I0.In this respect, it will be noted that body I Il is formed of leatherand that the projected portion I8 has two thicknesses of sheet material40 between which washer 42 and the upset portion 44 of rivet 36 iscaused to lie. The pivotal interconnection between body I0 and support20, is, therefore, rivet 36, and body I0 moves about the axis of thisrivet when the latching mechanism about to be described, is inoperative.

In the embodiment illustrated, the latching mechanism for holding thebody I against movement relative to support 20, comprises a pair ofheavy glove fasteners, one section 45 whereof is carried by body I0while the cooperating section 48 is mounted on support 20. Section 46includes the rounded heads which do not mar the surface of the leatherwhen the glove fasteners are inoperative and as body I is swung aboutthe axis of rivet 36. Rivet 36 and the sections 46 and 48 of the twoglove fasteners are far enough apart to permit ilexing the material fromwhich projected portion I8 is made to allow disengagement of sections 46and 48 when such becomes necessary. The sections of the glove fastenersare so placed as to be movable into engaged operative condition whenhollow body l0 assumes the position illustrated in Fig. 1. longitudinalaxis of body lll is at an angle to the perpendicular and the lower endof this said body The is projected downwardly and rearwardly fromsupport when the holster assembly is worn in the normal position.

When the holster is carried by the officer into an automobile, sections46 and 48 are parted and body l0 may swing around pivotal point 36 to aplace where the belt and support 26 will remain in a normal condition asbody I0 swings to a point more nearly horizontal than that assumed whenthe snap fasteners are operative.

The angle of inclnationillustrated in Fig. l, is desirable because aquick withdrawal of the pistol is possible without interference and assoon as retaining strap I6 is unsnapped. If the wearer is desirous ofhaving the body i0 swing to position, such as shown in Fig. 2, where thepistol will be beside the thigh and resting upon the seat of theautomobile, the body may be caused to assume the position shown in Fig.2.

`Actual practice has 'demonstrated the benets arising from a holstermade as above described and practically all of the problems heretoforeencountered when wearing a holster of prevailing type, have been solved.Ease of operation, automatic adjustability to desired positions withrespect to the body, and other benefits of the structure will beapparent'to those skilled in the art.

Obviously, holsters of the type shown and specied, may be made topresent physical characteristics different from those illustrated, andtherefore, it is desired to be limited only by the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

l, A holster for pistols of the like comprising a hollow, open top bodyhaving an outer wall and an inner wall, having a portion extendingbeyond one end of the outer wall; a belt-engaging support for the bodyin overlapping relation with the said extended portion of the innerwall; means for -pivotally interconnecting the support and said extendedportion of the inner wall; and parts on the support and on the innerwall respectively, for. holding the body against movement about thepivotal means, said parts being manually secured in the holding positionupon pressing together the inner wall and the support when the body isdisposed in a certain position with respect to the support.

2. A holster for pistols or the like comprising a hollow, open top bodyhaving an outer wall and aninner wall, having a portion extending beyondone end of the outer wall; a belt-engaging support for the body inoverlapping relation with the said extended portion of the inner wall;means for pivotally interconnecting the support and said extendedportion of the inner wall; and parts on the support and on the innerwall respectively for holding the body against movement about the ypivotal means, said parts being manually secured inthe holding positionwhen pressing together the inner wall and the support when the body isextended downwardly and rearwardly with respect to the support when thelatter is hanging at the side of the wearer.

3. A holster for pistols or the like comprising a hollow, open top bodyhaving an inner and an outer wall; a belt-engaging support inoverlapping relation with the inner wall of the body; means forpivotally interconnecting the support and said inner wall; and parts forlatching together the support and the inner wall, said parts includingat least one snap fastener having a section on the support and a matingsection on the body.

4. A holster for pistols or the like comprising a hollow, open top bodyhaving an inner and an' outer wall; a belt-engaging support inoverlapping relation with the inner wall of the body; means forpivotally interconnecting the support and said inner wall; and parts forlatching togetherthe support and the inner wall, said parts including atleast one snap fastener having a section on l the support and a matingsection on the body,

said sections being in place to mate when the body is disposed at anangle to the perpendicular.

' BYRON ENGLE.

